Resealable closure mechanism

ABSTRACT

A resealable closure mechanism includes a first closure including a plurality of profiles including two functional male closure profiles and a first plurality of non-functional male closure profiles, wherein at least one of the non-functional male closure profiles is disposed between the two functional male profiles. A second closure opposes the first closure and includes two female closure profiles configured to interlock with the functional male closure profiles. The non-functional male profiles are configured such that the female profiles cannot interlock therewith.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/806,156, filed Jun. 29, 2006, and entitled “Resealable ClosureMechanism.”

REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

SEQUENTIAL LISTING

Not applicable

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to closure mechanisms, and moreparticularly to closure mechanisms having at least one functional maleclosure profile and at least one female closure profile.

2. Description of the Background of the Invention

A thermoplastic pouch in the form of a bag for the storage of itemsgenerally includes a closure mechanism, which has two separate closurestrips attached to inner surfaces of opposing pouch walls. A firstclosure strip typically has one or more continuous closure elements orprofiles of various cross-sectional shapes that interlock with one ormore closure elements of a second opposing closure strip. These closuremechanisms are known in the art.

In some instances, closure mechanisms have a zipper strip that has amale profile and a female profile, wherein the male profile has a baseand at least one male interlocking member extending from the base towardthe female profile. The female profile has a base and at least onefemale interlocking member extending from the base toward the maleprofile. The male and female interlocking members are engageable witheach other to join the male and female profiles together. One or both ofthe profiles is provided with at least one high compression member thatallows the interlocked profiles to be sealed to thermoplastic filmacross the widths of respective bases thereof without the interlockingmembers being crushed or distorted.

Other closure devices have male and female fastening strips arranged tobe interlocked over a predetermined length. The female fastening striphas a female closure element having parallel webs that have hook closureportions. The male fastening strip has a male closure element havingparallel webs that also have hook closure portions. The hook portions ofthe male closure element have guide surfaces to guide the hook portionsfor occlusion with the female hook portions. The male fastening stripalso has wings that are flexible and extend from the base of thefastening strip. The wings terminate in an end portion that projectsoutwardly from the wings.

Some fasteners have extruded reclosable plastic profile strips, whereinthe profile strips have a plurality of interlocking ribs that have agenerally arrow-head shaped cross-section or a fastener rib having agenerally arrow-head shaped cross-section on one strip interlockablyreceived in a fastener rib having a generally groove-shapedcross-section on the opposing strip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a resealable closuremechanism includes a first closure including a plurality of profilesincluding two functional male closure profiles and a first plurality ofnon-functional male closure profiles, wherein at least one of thenon-functional male closure profiles is disposed between the twofunctional male profiles. A second closure opposes the first closure andincludes two female closure profiles configured to interlock with thefunctional male closure profiles. The non-functional male profiles areconfigured such that the female profiles cannot interlock therewith.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a resealableclosure mechanism includes a first closure strip including a functionalmale closure profile and a plurality of non-functional male closureprofiles, wherein a web of material interconnects the functional andnon-functional closure profiles. A second closure strip opposes thefirst closure strip and includes a female closure profile extendingtherefrom and configured to interlock with the functional male closureprofile. The non-functional male profile is configured such that thefemale profile cannot interlock therewith.

Other aspects and advantages of the present application will becomeapparent upon consideration of the following detailed description. Likereference numerals in the drawings designate like structures in thevarious embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an front elevational view of a reclosable pouch according tothe present application; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partial sectional view taken generally along thelines 2-2 of FIG. 1, omitting portions behind the plane of section forpurposes of clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a resealable pouch in the form of a thermoplasticstorage bag 10 comprises first and second bag walls 12, 14. The firstand second bag walls 12, 14 are joined at first and second side portions16, 18, respectively, and at a bottom portion 20. An opening 22 isformed at a top portion 24 of the bag 10. A first closure strip 26,extending from the first side portion 16 to the second side portion 18,is secured to an inside surface of the first bag wall 12. Second andthird closure strips 28 a, 28 b extend from the first side portion 16 tothe second side portion 18 and are secured to an inside surface of thesecond bag wall 14. The first, second, and third closure strips 26, 28a, 28 b are disposed near the top portion 24 of the bag 10 and the firstclosure strip engages the second and third closure strips 28 a, 28 b tocomprise a closure mechanism for the bag.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the second and third closure strips 28 a, 28 binclude first and second spaced apart generally symmetric female closureprofiles 30 a, 30 b, respectively. The female closure profile 30 aincludes first and second legs 32 a, 32 b extending therefrom with hooks34 a, 34 b extending downwardly from the legs 32 a, 32 b toward thesecond closure strip 28 a. Similarly, the female closure profile 30 bincludes first and second legs 36 a, 36 b extending therefrom with hooks38 a, 38 b extending downwardly from the legs 36 a, 36 b toward thesecond closure strip 28 b.

The closure strip 26 includes a web of material 37 interconnecting aplurality of male closure profiles 40 a-40 j. The male profiles 40 a, 40b, 40 d-40 g, 40 i, and 40 j are non-functional male closure profiles inthat they are not adapted to engage other closure profiles and the maleprofiles 40 c and 40 h are functional male closure profiles in that theyare adapted to engage other closure profiles. The non-functional maleprofiles 40 a, 40 b are disposed between the top portion 24 of the bag10 and the functional male profile 40 c, the non-functional maleprofiles 40 d-40 g are disposed between the functional male profiles 40c and 40 h, and the non-functional male profiles 40 i and 40 j aredisposed between the functional male profile 40 h and bottom portion 20of the bag 10.

In one embodiment, the functional male closure profiles 44 c, 44 h havethe same general cross-sectional shape. For example, each of thefunctional male closure profiles 40 c, 40 h includes a stem 42 c, 42 hwith two opposing hook portions 44 c, 44 h, respectively, that form agenerally arrow-shaped cross-section. The hook portions 44 c, 44 hextend downwardly from top portions 45 c, 45 h of the stems 42 c, 42 htoward the first closure strip 26, wherein the functional male profiles40 c, 40 h are aligned with the female profiles 30 a, 30 b,respectively. The hook portions 44 c of the functional male closureprofile 40 c engage the hooks 38 a of the female closure profile 30 aand the hook portions 44 h of the functional male closure profile 40 hengage the hooks 38 b of the female closure profile 30 b to form aclosure mechanism to seal the bag 10.

The non-functional male profiles 40 a, 40 b, 40 d-40 g, 40 i, and 40 jinclude stems 50 a, 50 b, 50 d-50 g, 50 i, and 50 j each having twoopposing hook portions 52 a, 52 b, 52 d-52 g, 52 i, and 52 j,respectively. The hook portions 52 a, 52 b, 52 d-52 g, 52 i, and 52 jextend downwardly from middle portions 54 a, 54 b, 54 d-54 g, 54 i, and54 j of the stems 50 a, 50 b, 50 d-50 g, 50 i, and 50 j toward the firstclosure strip 26. The hook portions 52 a, 52 b, 52 d-52 g, 52 i, and 52j are disposed a distance from the bag wall 12 small enough to preventthe hooks 38 a, 38 b of the female closure profiles 30 a, 30 b fromengaging the hook portions 52 a, 52 b, 52 d-52 g, 52 i, and 52 j of thenon-functional male closure profiles 40 a, 40 b, 40 d-40 g, 40 i, and 40j.

Illustratively if, as a user is closing the closure strips 26, 28 a, 28b, pressure is exerted on one or both of the female closure profiles 30a, 30 b toward one of the non-functional male closure profiles 40 a, 40b, 40 d-40 g, 40 i, and 40 j, the female closure profile 30 a, 30 b willslide up the respective stem 50 a, 50 b, 50 d-50 g, 50 i, and 50 j ofthe non-functional male closure profile 40 a, 40 b, 40 d-40 g, 40 i, and40 j, but will not engage the hook portions 52 a, 52 b, 52 d-52 g, 52 i,and 52 j thereof. Instead, the female closure profile 30 a 30 b will popoff the respective non-functional male closure profile 40 a, 40 b, 40d-40 g, 40 i, and 40 j and realign with other male closure profiles 40a-40 j until the female closure profile 30 a, 30 b engages a functionalmale closure profile 40 c, 40 h.

Although the embodiment of FIG. 2 depicts a first closure strip 26 withten male closure profiles 40 a-40 j, any number and/or shape of maleclosure profiles may be used as long as a plurality non-functional maleclosure profiles surround one or more functional male closure profiles.Further, any number of female closure profiles may be utilized as longas a number of functional male closure profiles are present and alignedfor engagement with the female closure profiles to provide a closuremechanism for the bag 10.

In one embodiment, the first closure strip 26 is extruded onto the firstbag wall 12 using a die plate shaped to form the male closure profiles40 a-40 j and the web of material 37 connecting the male closureprofiles 40 a-40 j. Each of the female closure profiles 30 a, 30 b maybe extruded separately onto the second bag wall 14 such that there is noseparate material other than the bag wall 14 connecting the femaleclosure profiles 30 a, 30 b.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The embodiments of the thermoplastic storage bag as described hereinadvantageously provide a consumer with a bag having a closure mechanism,wherein the closure mechanism comprises at least one functional maleclosure profile, a plurality of non-functional male closure profiles,and at least one female closure profile. The functional male closureprofile and the female closure profile provide a resealable closure forthe bag. The non-functional male closure profiles may provide astabilizer and a guide for a user's fingers. The non-functional maleclosure profiles further may aide in aligning the functional maleclosure profile with the female closure profile.

Numerous modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art inview of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is tobe construed as illustrative only and is presented for the purpose ofenabling those skilled in the art to make and use the embodiments of theapplication and to teach the best mode of carrying out same. Theexclusive rights to all modifications, which come within the scope ofthe appended claims, are reserved.

1. A resealable closure mechanism, comprising: a first closure includinga plurality of profiles including two functional male closure profilesand a plurality of non-functional male closure profiles, wherein atleast one non-functional male closure profiles is disposed between thetwo functional male profiles; and a second closure opposing the firstclosure and including two female closure profiles configured tointerlock with the functional male closure profiles; wherein thenon-functional male profiles are configured such that the femaleprofiles cannot interlock therewith.
 2. The resealable closure mechanismof claim 1, wherein the functional and non-functional male closureprofiles of the first closure are interconnected by a web of material.3. The resealable closure mechanism of claim 2, wherein the functionalmale profiles include two hooks portions forming arrow-shaped profiles.4. The resealable closure mechanism of claim 3, wherein the femaleclosure profiles are disposed on separate closure strips.
 5. Theresealable closure mechanism of claim 4, wherein the female closureprofiles include first and second legs extending from a base portion,wherein the legs terminate in hooks that engage the hook portions of therespective functional male profiles.
 6. The resealable closure mechanismof claim 1, wherein the first closure is disposed on a first wall of abag and the second closure is disposed on a second wall of the bag. 7.The resealable closure mechanism of claim 6, wherein at least onenon-functional male closure profile is disposed between an uppermostfunctional male closure profile and a top portion of the bag.
 8. Theresealable closure mechanism of claim 7, wherein at least onenon-functional male closure profiles is disposed between a lowermostfunctional male closure profile and a bottom portion of the bag.
 9. Theresealable closure mechanism of claim 6, wherein each of thenon-functional male profiles includes a stem and opposing hook portionsextending outwardly from the stem.
 10. The resealable closure mechanismof claim 9, wherein the hook portions of the non-functional maleprofiles extend from middle portions of the stems such that a distancebetween the hook portions and the bag wall is small enough to preventhooks of the female closure profiles from engaging the hook portions.11. A resealable closure mechanism, comprising: a first closure stripincluding a functional male closure profile and a plurality ofnon-functional male closure profiles, wherein a web of materialinterconnects the functional and non-functional closure profiles; and asecond closure strip opposing the first closure strip and including afemale closure profile extending therefrom and configured to interlockwith the functional male closure profile; wherein the non-functionalmale profile is configured such that the female profile cannot interlocktherewith.
 12. The resealable closure mechanism of claim 11, wherein thefirst closure strip further includes an additional functional maleclosure profile.
 13. The resealable closure mechanism of claim 12,further including a third closure strip opposing the first closure stripand having a second female closure profile extending therefrom andconfigured to interlock with the additional functional male closureprofile.
 14. The resealable closure mechanism of claim 13, wherein thefunctional male profiles include two hooks portions forming arrow-shapedprofiles.
 15. The resealable closure mechanism of claim 14, wherein thefemale closure profiles include first and second legs extending from abase portion, wherein the legs terminate in hooks that engage the hookportions of the respective functional male profiles.
 16. The resealableclosure mechanism of claim 15, wherein the first closure strip isattached to a first wall of a bag and the second and third closurestrips are attached to a second wall of the bag.
 17. The resealableclosure mechanism of claim 11, wherein at least one non-functional maleclosure profiles is disposed between an uppermost functional maleclosure profile and a top portion of the bag.
 18. The resealable closuremechanism of claim 17, wherein at least one non-functional male closureprofiles is disposed between a lowermost functional male closure profileand a bottom portion of the bag.
 19. The resealable closure mechanism ofclaim 18, wherein each of the non-functional male profiles includes astem and opposing hook portions extending outwardly from the stem. 20.The resealable closure mechanism of claim 19, wherein the hook portionsof the non-functional male profiles extend from middle portions of thestems such that a distance between the hook portions and the bag wall issmall enough to prevent hooks of the female closure profiles fromengaging the hook portions.